Paris Champs-Élysées

Notre-Dame celebrates its 850 years

A symbol of the French capital, being its spiritual lighthouse while the Eiffel Tower was a pillar of modernity, Notre-Dame de Paris celebrates its 850 years in 2013 with plenty of events and commemorations.

The most spectacular rejuvenation of the old cathedral completed in 1163 was the replacement of its bells, removed in 2012 and reinstalled in March. Greeted on the Notre-Dame square by thousands of spectators and 3,000 children, the new bells were blessed by Archbishop Mgr Ving-Trois. They were then admired for three weeks by millions of visitors. Lifted in the towers in late February, Jean-Marie, Maurice, Benoit-Joseph, Etienne, Marcel, Denis, Anne-Genevieve, Gabriel and Marie were heard for the fist time on March 23, along with Emmanuel, a bell in place since 1686.

The other main events of the anniversary were the refurbishing of the Treasure, which has been reorganised, as well as the renovation of the lighting and the organ. The Grand Organ, one of the most famous in the world, was partly restored to take part in the 850th anniversary festivities, and will be entirely dismantled and repaired in 2014.

Thanks to the organ auditions taking place every Sunday in the cathedral, more than 2,000 organists have played on the organ. The instrument was restored several times in the past, especially in the 18th century when it took its current shape. Its sound was again improved in 1868 by organ-maker Aristide Cavaillé-Coll.

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Paris and cycling

One day per year, the most visited city in the world abandons its habits to welcome the Tour's riders. Its historic centre, where the final circuit of the last stage has been set up since 1975, will in turn travel to 190 countries, by means of television screens. In the last few years, the Champs-Élysées has found its champion: Mark Cavendish, the winner of the green jersey in 2011, finished first there last year. The British sprinter has achieved three of his twenty stage victories in Paris, but is still behind Eddy Merckx's record of 34.

Merckx is aso the record stage winner in Paris with four victories, three time trials in the La Cipale race track in Vincennes, the fourth in a sprint finish. This is another record within reach for the Manx. Merckx's last victory in the French capital was also the hardest fought as it was gained when his compatriot Patrick Sercu was disqualified after a rough sprint, to say the least. The two Belgians were great friends all the same, teaming up regularly in Six Day races. Sercu gained some consolation with the green jersey in one of the few Tours he entered.

Traditional climax of the Tour de France38 finals on the Champs-Élysées2,200,000 inhabitantsCapital of France and of the Ile-de-France Region Commune-department and prefecture (75)

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Places to see

Eiffel Tower

Originally known as the 300-metres Tower, it is an iron tower assembled by Gustave Eiffel and his crew for the 1889 World Fair. Located at the very end of the Champ de Mars, it has become the symbol of France and is the world's most visited paying site with roughly seven million vistors every year. Its height went up a little bit thanks to the aerials installed at the top and is now estimated at 324 metres. The Eiffel Tower was the highest building in the world for 40 years. Used in the past for several scientific experiments, it is now a radio and television relay station.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame is one of the most remarkable cathedrals produced by Gothic Art in France and in Europe. When completed near the end of the 14th century, it was the largest cathedral in Wesrern Europe. The church, one of Paris best known sites, is located on the Ile de la Cité, the historical centre of Paris, near the banks of the Seine. Its West façade overlooks the Notre-Dame forecourt, one of Paris largest squares, now named after Pope John-Paul II. The construction, on the site of ancient pagan temples, took more than two centuries to be completed and as a result, the style is not homogeneous. After the troubled times of the Revolution, the cathedral was restored in the middle of the 19th century by controversial architect Viollet-Leduc, who integrated elements of style the cathedral had never originally borne.

Champs-Élysées

The Champs-Elysees are considered as the most beautiful avenue in the orld and by Paisians as the most beautiful avenue in the world. It drew its name from the place in the Greek myrthology where virtuous souls went after death. In 1616, queen Marie de Medici decided to have a large alley lined with trees built on the greens. In 1667, Le Notre prolonged the pespective until the Tuileries. The current pattern up to Place de l'Etoile was completed in 1724. In 1838, architect Jacques Hittorff redesigned the avenue, including its lamp-posts which are still in place today. They were again refurbished during the Second Empire by Jean-Charles Alphand.

Traditional climax of the Tour de France38 finals on the Champs-Élysées2,200,000 inhabitantsCapital of France and of the Ile-de-France Region Commune-department and prefecture (75)

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Paris is well worth a mass

King Heny IV was noted for his outspoken character yet historians are unsure whether he actually said the sentence that stayed in history when becoming King of France in 1594: "Paris is well worth a mass".

When he took over from his cousin in 1589, Henry was a king without a kingdom. The vast majority of his subjects were Catholics and could not accept to be ruled not only by a Protestant but by the very leader of the Protestant cause in France. At odds with Charles X and the King of Spain, who claimed the kingdom for his daughter, Henry was forced to take back his crown by force. Helped by some Catholic knights, he won battles in Arques and Ivry, to finally take the best over his enemies of the Catholic League, led by the Duke of Guise. Henry IV besieged Paris for four months, from May to September 1590, leaving 45,000 dead. But the starved city refused to surrender. The royal troops withdreaw and took Chartres, Rouen and Epernay.

The only way out for the King was to bow to demands by his family and friends, starting with his favourite, Gabrielle D'Estrees to become a Catholic. He finally accepted to renounce his Protestant faith on July 25 1593 and to receive baptism in the St Denis basilica. On February 25, 1594, he was crowned in the Chartres cathedral. A month later he entered Paris as the new monarch.

Traditional climax of the Tour de France38 finals on the Champs-Élysées2,200,000 inhabitantsCapital of France and of the Ile-de-France Region Commune-department and prefecture (75)